Horizon Power has completed a 12-month trial in Exmouth testing two-way electric vehicle charging technology. The project explored how electric vehicles can share power with the electricity grid while maintaining stability and reliability.
The vehicle-to-grid (V2G) technology allows energy to flow both ways between the grid and an electric vehicle. It enables cars to act as mobile energy storage systems. During the trial, Horizon Power tested how V2G could power homes, reduce power bills, and support grid stability in regional areas.
Data from the trial will help design new products that give customers more ways to use their electric vehicles. Future systems may allow drivers to power their homes or earn money by returning electricity to the grid.
The trial was the first of its kind in Western Australia. It used Horizon Power’s Distributed Energy Resource Management System (DERMS), which collects data from power systems, rooftop solar, weather forecasts, and EVs. DERMS balanced customer demand with network stability throughout the project.
Horizon Power already uses DERMS to manage grid capacity and enable more homes to install rooftop solar. The findings from the Exmouth trial show how the same technology could help manage electric vehicle energy flow in regional and remote towns.
The company partnered with local organisations, including the Gascoyne Development Commission, Shire of Exmouth, Exmouth Chamber of Commerce and Industry, and WA Country Health Service. Each received a V2G-compatible electric vehicle and charging equipment to participate in the trial.
The success of the project marks a step toward integrating electric vehicles into regional power systems and creating smarter, more flexible energy networks.